New York State Police Launch Distracted Driving Crackdown

Enforcement campaign aims to curb phone use behind the wheel during April's National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:33pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a cell phone on a car dashboard, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the dangers of distracted driving.A crackdown on distracted driving aims to curb the dangerous use of electronic devices behind the wheel.NYC Today

The New York State Police will participate in a national distracted driving enforcement campaign as part of April's National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The 'Put the Phone Away or Pay' effort will run from April 6-13, 2026, with Troopers utilizing both marked vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) cars to target drivers using electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle.

Why it matters

Distracted driving remains a leading cause of preventable crashes on New York's roadways, with over 3,200 people killed in distraction-affected crashes nationwide in 2024. The enforcement campaign aims to raise awareness and change driver behavior to improve safety.

The details

During the campaign, Troopers will conduct targeted enforcement details focused on drivers using electronic devices. They will utilize both marked State Police vehicles and CITE cars, which allow officers to better observe violations from an elevated vantage point. In last year's April 'Put the Phone Away or Pay' campaign, New York State Troopers issued 22,867 tickets, including 4,607 for distracted driving violations.

  • The enforcement effort will run from Monday, April 6, 2026, through Monday, April 13, 2026.
  • In April 2025, New York State Troopers issued 22,867 tickets, including 4,607 for distracted driving violations, during the 'Put the Phone Away or Pay' campaign.

The players

New York State Police

The state law enforcement agency that will be conducting the distracted driving enforcement campaign.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

The federal agency that provided data showing over 3,200 people were killed in distraction-affected crashes in the United States in 2024.

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What’s next

The New York State Police will continue to monitor and enforce distracted driving laws throughout the year to improve safety on the state's roadways.

The takeaway

This enforcement campaign highlights the ongoing challenge of distracted driving and the need for drivers to remain focused behind the wheel. By issuing tickets and raising awareness, the New York State Police aim to change driver behavior and reduce the number of preventable crashes caused by the use of electronic devices.